CLASSROOM INTERACTION Five types of Ss grouping are common in the classroom : 1. The whole class working together with the teacher 2. The whole class mixing together as individuals 3. Small groups ( three to eight people ) 4. Pairs 5. Individual work

PAIRWORK  In pairwork, the T divides the whole class into pairs. Every student works with his / her partner, and all the pairs work ( it is sometimes called “ simultaneous pairwork “ ).  This is not the same as “ public “ or “ open ” pairwok, with pairs of student speaking in turn in front of the class.

GROUP WORK / SMALL GROUP  In group work, the T divides the class into small groups to work together ( usually four or five Ss in each group ). As in pairwork, all the groups work at the same time.

ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES ADVANTAGES ADVANTAGES  More language practice  Ss are more involved  Ss feel secure  Ss help each other PROBLEMS PROBLEMS  Noise  Ss make mistakes  Difficult to control

FREQUENTLY USED CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES  Pattern Practice : This can be done in pairs. Any controlled oral practice can be done first with the whole class, and then in pairs.  Practising short dialogues : Acting out short dialogues can very easily be done in pairs, with little chance of Ss making mistakes. It can be done first with pairs of Ss in front of the class, and then with all the Ss working in pairs at the same time.  Reading a text and answering questions : Ss can discuss questions in pairs or groups and then read the text; or they can read the text silently, and then ask and answer questions in pairs or groups. This is a good way of involving the whole class in answering questions.

 Short writing exercise : Ss can sit in groups and decide together what to write – one student act as “secretary”. This can be difficult to organize but in a large class it has the advantage that Ss correct each others’ mistakes and the T only has a few papers to mark at the end. Pairwork can be used for correcting written work ( eg homework ) – Ss sit in pairs and correct what their partner has written.  Discussions : With more advanced classes, discussions can be conducted in groups. It is important to define the discussion clearly, and to ask each group to report their conclusions afterwards.  Grammar exercises : Ss can do grammar exercises orally in pairs, the T goes through the answers afterwards with the whole class, and Ss write the exercise for HW. This is more interesting and productive than Ss doing exercises alone, in silence.